Leonidas
Background
Leonidas is the 45 year old king of Sparta, Greece. He is married to Gorgo and his son is Pleistarchos. His father was Leonidas' Father and his mother was Leonidas' Mother.
During the events of 300 (2006) played by Eli Snyder, Tyler Neitzel and Gerard Butler
Captain walks into the palace as Gorgo watches Leonidas training Pleistarchos. Before leaving to speak to the Messenger, Leonidas tells Pleistarchos that the true strength of a Spartan is the warrior next to him. Theron and the Messenger walk to the palace along with the Messenger's Persian bodyguards. Theron introduces the Messenger and before the Messenger speaks, Leonidas warns him that everyone, even a king's messenger is held accountable for what they say. The Messenger tells Leonidas about the greatness of Xerxes and his armies and that all that he requires from Leonidas is earth and water as a token of Sparta's submission to Xerxes. Leonidas tells the Messenger that if the philosopher Athenians have already rejected Xerxes demands, then due to their reputation, the Spartans must also. The Messenger stops Leonidas and warns him to choose his words carefully as they might be his last as king and Leonidas looks around and glances at Mother at Market, Daughter at Market (3/5 Years Old), Spartan Boy, Boy 1 at Market, and Gorgo. He pulls out his sword, and after the Messenger tells him what Leonidas is doing is madness, Leonidas yells "this is Sparta" and kicks the Messenger in a well, followed by his Persian bodyguards.
Leonidas climbs a cliff to speak with the Ephors. Ephor 1] welcomes Leonidas and tells him they expected him. Leonidas tells Ephor 1, Ephor 2, Ephor 3, 4 and 5 about the invading Persian army and Ephor 2 demands to see what bribe Leonidas has brought. Leonidas tell them he wishes to go to war with the Persians and Ephor 1 and Ephor 2 reminds Leonidas that the Carneia will start soon. Leonidas yells that the Spartan people will be made slaves if the Persians are allowed to attack and he tells them his plan to funnel the Persians into a pass called the Hot Gates. Ephor 1 tells Leonidas they must consult the Oracle Girl. The Oracle Girl dances and then collapses. She whispers and Ephor 1 tells Leonidas that Sparta will will fall if they go to war and he must honor the Carneia. During the night, Leonidas tells Gorgo that he worries that the Oracle Girl's word will cause him to lose everything and Gorgo assures him he should do what any free man would do. The next day, Leonidas walks out of the gates of Sparta and meets up with Captain and a group of 300 Spartans who all have had sons to continue their name. Leonidas inspects the men, including Dilios, and Stelios yells that they are all with Leonidas, Sparta and freedom. Leonidas sees Astinos in the group and Leonidas tells Captain that Astinos is too young, but Captain tells Leonidas, he has other sons to replace Astinos. Theron walks up along with Elder Councilman and Councilman and Elder Councilman and Councilman tell Leonidas that the Oracle Girl has spoken and they shall not march into battle. Theron reminds Leonidas that the Oracle Girl's word is the law and Leonidas tells him he is going for a walk and the others are his personal bodyguard. Leonidas says goodbye to Gorgo and Pleistarchos and Gorgo gives him her necklace and tells him to come back with his shield or on it.
As the group of Spartans march, they come across Daxos and a group of free Greeks. Daxos comments on the small amount of Spartans and Leonidas starts asking the free Greeks what their profession is. After hearing from Free Greek-Potter, Free Greek-Sculptor, Free Greek-Blacksmith, and Free Greek-Baker, Leonidas asks his men what their profession is and then tells Daxos, he brought more soldiers. Astinos tells the others that they are being followed and Leonidas and the others see Ephialtes on a hill. Stelios sees a village on fire and they enter the village and find it destroyed by the Persians. Burned Village Child walks up to Leonidas and then collapses and dies after telling him what happened to the village. Dilios tells the others he found the dead villagers and the Spartans and free Greeks stare in disgust at a tree with the villagers' bodies nailed to it. They march into the Hot Gates and see the Persian fleet floating nearby. During the night, a storm hits and destroys a number of Persian ships.
As Captain is talking with Leonidas, Ephialtes walks up to them and introduces himself to Leonidas and tells him he is a Spartan and his family fled Sparta when his mother decided not to kill him as a baby. Ephialtes asks to join the Spartans, but Leonidas shows him that he wouldn't be able to fight within their formation due to his deformities, but offers Ephialtes a job of bringing water to the soldiers and helping the wounded. Persian General 1 rides in front of a group of Persian soldiers and tells the Spartans to throw down their weapons, and is then killed by a thrown spear. The Persians attack and are repelled. After arrows are shot at the Spartans, a group of Persian cavalry attack and are all killed. Xerxes rides toward the Spartans on a giant litter and Leonidas goes to meet him. Xerxes offers peace with Leonidas and offers to make him one of his warlords if will kneel before him, but Leonidas refuses. In the evening, a group of Immortals along with Uber Immortal (Giant), attack the Spartans and manage to kill a few Spartans. The Uber Immortal attacks Leonidas and manages to wound him, but Leonidas cuts off his head. The Arcadians and Daxos help in the battle and they manage to defeat the Immortals. The battle continues the next day with the Spartans fighting giant rhinos and robed men throwing incendiary devices. The battle continues with elephants used against the Spartans. During the battle, Astinos gets his head cut off and the Captain kills a group of Persians in battle in revenge.
After the battle, Dilios tends to his now damaged left eye. Leonidas walks up to him and asks how the Captain is doing and Daxos rides up and tells Leonidas that Ephialtes has betrayed them and is leading the Persians behind them. Daxos then leaves with his men. Leonidas gives a speech to his men and the Captain tells Leonidas he regrets not telling Astinos that he loved him. Leonidas orders Dilios to return to Sparta and to tell the Spartans their story and gives him Gorgo's necklace to give back to her. The Spartans are surrounded by the Persian army and Persian General 2 walks up and says Xerxes has come to admire the Spartans for their fighting spirit. Ephialtes pleads with Leonidas to surrender and Persian General 2 tells Leonidas he and his men will live if he kneels to Xerxes. Leonidas drops his armor and weapons and kneels before calling out to Stelios, who jumps off Leonidas' back and stabs Persian General 2 with a spear. Leonidas throws his spear and it slices Xerxes across the cheek, proving he is not a god. Leonidas and the Spartans are then slaughtered. Before dying, Stelios tells Leonidas it was an honor to die by his side and Leonidas tells him it was an honor to live by his. Leonidas calls out to Gorgo and is then shot with hundreds of arrows.
